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Russian euphoria turns to anger

Politicians in Moscow mock Flynn’s resignation and say it makes co-operation between the nations more difficult

15 February 2017 - 07:18
Stepan Kravchenko and Ilya Arkhipov

Michael Flynn. Picture: REUTERS/MIKE SEGAR

Moscow — Russian legislators reacted with dismay and anger to US National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s resignation, calling it a sign that President Donald Trump’s White House was driven by the same "paranoia" towards the Kremlin as previous presidencies.

Flynn’s removal over contacts with Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak showed that the administration was either not independent or suffered from Russophobia, Konstantin Kosachyov, a member of the governing party and chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the upper house of the Russian parliament, wrote on Tuesday on Facebook.

The two leaders have yet to agree on a date for their first meeting, however, and the US has not tempered criticism or eased sanctions over Russia’s role in the conflict in Ukraine.

Victim of Hysteria

While Trump had yet to announce a clear Russia policy, "it may have been easier with Flynn in that position" to find common ground, Fyodor Lukyanov, head of a Kremlin foreign policy advisory board, said on Tuesday. Flynn’s focus on fighting Islamist extremism "could have helped Russia-US co-operation", he said.

Flynn was a victim of his own mistakes and "anti-Russian hysteria" in Washington, said Oleg Morozov, a former senior Kremlin official who now serves on the foreign affairs committee in the upper house.

While Russia was ready for dialogue in response to Trump’s "positive signals", it was under no illusions that improving relations "is a very difficult road", he said.